Abstract

Lycopene Ameliorates Atherogenic Cardiovascular Risk in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Hyperlipidaemia in Wistar Rats

Author(s): Eze Ejike Daniel, Aliyu Mohammed, Yusuf Tanko and Ahmed Abubakar

The aim of the study was conducted to investigate the ameliorative effects of lycopene in atherogenecity of streptozotocin-induced diabetic hyperlipidaemia in Wistar rats. Thirty (30)Wistar rats of which twenty of them were made diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg b w of streptozocin. After which the diabetic animals were randomly divided into the following groups: Groups (I, II, III, IV, V and VI). Group I and II (NC + 0.5 ml of olive oil asn DC + 0.5 ml of olive oil), while Group III-V (received 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg b w of lycopene) and Group VI (received 2 mg/kg b w of glibenclamide). All administration was by oral gavage and it lasted for four weeks. After the last day of treatment, blood sample was collected and serum separated and used for determination of serum lipid profile. Atherogenic indices and cardiac risk ratio were calculated. There was a significant (P < 0.05) dose dependent reduction blood in glucose level with an increase of insulin concentration which was not statistically significantly when compared with diabetic control rats. The results showed a significantly (P < 0.05) decreased serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein with a corresponding elevated serum high-density lipoprotein level in diabetic-lyccopene treated animals in comparison with the diabetic control group. Serum atherogenic risk predictor indices (LDL-cholesterol/ HDL-cholesterol, and log (TRIG/HDL-cholesterol) and cardiac risk ratio were significantly deceased (P < 0.05) while HDL-cholesterol/TC was increased significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with diabetic control group. The experimental animals also showed a significantly (P < 0.05) increased percentage protections especially with the highest dose of lycopene recording the highest increased protection. From the available evidence in this study it can be concluded that lycopene ameliorated atherogenic diabetic-inducd dyslipidaemia, hence may have cardio-protective effects due to their high antioxidant activity.